Kunze tops Reedy in 24th Ohio House District

In a close election for an open seat created by a redrawing of district boundaries, Republican Stephanie Kunze narrowly defeated Democrat challenger Maureen Reedy for the 24th Ohio House District seat.

With all 139 precincts reporting Nov. 6, Kunze, a Hilliard City Councilwoman and an elected member of the Ohio Republican Party Central Committee, collected 30,354 votes, or 52 percent, and Reedy garnered 27,898 votes, or 48 percent, according to unofficial results from the Franklin County Board of Elections.

Kunze and Reedy ran to replace Ted Celeste (D-Grandview Heights), who could not seek re-election because he no longer lives in the redrawn 24th District.

The district now includes most of Hilliard and Upper Arlington and Brown, Norwich and Prairie townships in western Franklin County. The district also stretches into sections of Northwest Columbus and Clintonville.

Kunze, 42, is a founding member of Local Level, a website that showcases Hilliard businesses, schools, nonprofit organizations, real estate and recreation and parks.

She and her husband of 18 years, Matt, have lived in Hilliard for 10 years. They have two daughters, Hannah and Abigail.

Reedy, 54, has taught for 26 years at Upper Arlington City Schools and is currently an elementary instruction specialist at Wickliffe Elementary School.

Reedy and her husband, Tom, a Bexley educator, have lived in Upper Arlington for six years. They have two children, Dan and Jackie.